More than 30 Hawai'i surfers are on the ballot of potential invitees for the 2009-10 season of the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau contest.

Internet voting will be conducted from today through Aug. 31 at www.polls.quiksilver.com.

Fans can vote for up to 48 surfers — 24 invitees and 24 alternates. There are a total of 133 big-wave surfers on the ballot.

The fan vote will be considered the first stage of the selection process.

Among the Hawai'i surfers on the ballot are Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Sunny Garcia, Brian Keaulana, Rusty Keaulana, Garrett McNamara, Shane Dorian, Derek Ho, Michael Ho, Jamie O'Brien and Pancho Sullivan.

The Eddie Aikau contest is considered the most prestigious big-wave surfing event in the world. The one-day event can run only on a day when wave-face heights reach at least 40 feet at Waimea Bay between Dec. 1, 2009, and Feb. 28, 2010.

This season will be the 25th anniversary of the event, although it has been completed just seven times due to the strict competition standards.

Past champions are Denton Miyamura (1984), Clyde Aikau (1986), Keone Downing (1990), Noah Johnson (1999), Ross Clarke-Jones (2001), Kelly Slater (2002) and Bruce Irons (2004).

MANUEL GETS SECOND

Kaua'i's Malia Manuel placed second at the Supergirl Pro Junior contest last weekend at Oceanside, Calif.

California's Courtney Conlogue edged Manuel in the final, 12.9-12.4.

Conlogue received $5,000 and Manuel $3,000. The event featured most of the nation's top female surfers age 20 and younger.

The contest was also a qualifier for the ASP World Junior Championship.

Manuel, 16, is the top-rated female surfer from Hawai'i in the junior ratings.

BRAZILIAN GOES BIG

Brazil's Maya Gabeira rode what is believed to be the biggest wave ever surfed by a female last week off Cape Town, South Africa.

Gabeira was towed into a massive wave, which is estimated to have a wave-face of between 40 and 50 feet.

It has been entered in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. To view a photo of the wave, visit www.billa bongxxl.com. Gabeira is considered the world's premier female big-wave surfer, and is a three-time winner of the Billabong Girls Best Performance Award.

SURF SERIES CONTINUES

The 2009-10 Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series presented by the Hawai'i Surfing Association will continue this weekend with a two-day event at "Straight Out" off Kewalo Basin.

It will be the second of 12 contests in the 2009-10 series for amateur surfers. The series features age-group competition in shortboard surfing, longboard surfing, bodyboarding and stand-up paddle surfing. Age divisions range from 11-younger to 50-older. For entry information and fees visit www.hasasurf.org.

AUTOGRAPH SIGNING

The Verizon Wireless Hawai'i Junior Surf Team will sign autographs tomorrow at the Verizon Wireless store in the Pacific Guardian Tower (1440 Kapi'olani Blvd.).

The 12-member team placed second at the World Junior Surfing Championships earlier this year at Ecuador.

Keanu Asing of 'Ewa Beach won an individual world title in the 16-under division at the event. Asing and the other surfers are scheduled to be at the store from noon to 2 p.m.

Also, a "Back to School VIP" prize pack will be awarded. It includes a Verizon Wireless mini netbook, a surfboard, a Billabong backpack and a gift card.